Advanced visualization and PACS firm Visage Imaging and the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) have released survey data regarding the current state of imaging informatics.
The survey included 28 responses via social media and queries of SIIM membership. Forty-two percent of respondents were RIS/PACS administrators, while 31% were radiologists. Thirty-five percents of respondents work in imaging centers, offices, or clinics; 27% work in community hospitals; and 19% are in university hospitals.
Visage and SIIM found that of the survey respondents, 30% do not use hanging protocols in their PACS, and of those who do use hanging protocols, 74% say they are of poor quality. Twenty-five percent of respondents do not have easy access to priors generated at their own institution, and 67% do not have easy access to priors generated at other institutions.
In addition, 58% of survey participants reported having three or more viewers in their radiology departments, while 15% use five or more viewers. Thirty-nine percent of respondents had not significantly upgraded their primary diagnostic viewer in more than five years, while 50% had upgraded their primary diagnostic viewer in the prior two years.
The survey also found that 84% of participants poorly rated the integration of 3D imaging into the primary workflow of the radiology department, and 72% poorly rated their primary diagnostic viewer support of multiple, large CT studies (more than 4,000 slices).
"The survey results are extremely concerning and indicate widespread opportunity for improvement," Visage and SIIM said in a statement. "While the scope and sophistication of the survey was limited, the survey results are consistent with other recent papers, talks, and observations by industry leaders."
